The Gospel according to J E S U S : A Weapon of Mass Forgiveness and Love

Monday, December 26, 2005

Authority & Autonomy

This is the last of a three part philosophical analysis of anarchism, authority and autonomy. (I have already commented on the first part here.)

The "Maverick Philosopher" blog concludes that authority and autonomy are not dichotomous.

However "autonomy" comes from the words "auto" and "nomos" meaning "self" and "law". So the autonomous person is his own law-giver which can only mean he recognises no law outside himself which can only mean there is no legitimate authority outside himself. If that is the case then all state authority is also illegitimate and the case for anarchism if even more firmly established.

Ultimately there are only two possibilities : either Self is God or God is God.